Tsunami alert: ‘Govt ready to meet any situation`

Chennai: Ruling out possibilities of a
tsunami hitting Tamil Nadu coast, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa
on Wednesday said her government is prepared to handle any situation
arising out of natural calamities.

"It is common that small tremors are felt after a big
earthquake of 8.7 (magnitude). Such small tremors were felt in
some parts of Tamil Nadu. While there is no possibility of a
tsunami, the government machinery is geared up to tackle any
situation with preventive measures," she said in a statement.

People, therefore, need not panic over tsunami fears, she
said.

Earlier, she had directed the officials to implement
preventive steps even as there was no possibility of a
tsunami. Collectors of coastal districts were alerted and
asked to stop people from venturing to the beach.

"Officials were asked to be prepared and on standby to
face any emergency situation and were asked to implement the
contingency plan meant for such times. In Chennai also, people
were cautioned against venturing in the shore," she said.

The Centre had initially issued a tsunami warning to
Tamil Nadu and some other states following the earthquake at
Sumatra, but later withdrew it.